“I had to go and get the shock on my heart,” said Scott McTominay, revealing he underwent emergency cardiac treatment just 48 hours before Scotland kicked off their World Cup campaign against Haiti in June.
The Napoli midfielder experienced an irregular heartbeat after arriving in the United States, requiring a hospital dash in Boston. At the time, the Scotland camp attributed his absence from training to a stomach complaint.
The 29-year-old was put to sleep to have his heart rhythm corrected before playing in the opening 1-0 victory over Haiti in Massachusetts. He subsequently played in the matches against Morocco and Brazil as Scotland exited the tournament at the group stage.
“Whenever you are sitting in a hospital bed two days before the first game at the World Cup, about to get put to sleep it’s not ideal is it?” McTominay told reporters in Glasgow.
“When things like that happen it is what it is, there’s nothing you can do about it. After the World Cup I reflected on it and it’s probably the most disappointed I have been in my career.”
The midfielder underwent a minimally invasive cardiac ablation procedure in Manchester in September to treat a mild, benign heart arrhythmia that first came to light after the Scots arrived in the United States in early June.
The corrective operation sidelined the player for Scotland’s first four Nations League matches under new manager Sébastien Pocognoli. McTominay returned to action for Napoli in early October and has since scored five goals for the Serie A side.
“I’m feeling much, much better than what I was,” McTominay said. “It was explained to me really well by the doctors at Napoli and my cardiologist in Manchester so the process was really straightforward.”
McTominay has rejoined the national squad for upcoming fixtures, with Scotland set to host North Macedonia on November 13 before travelling to face Switzerland three days later.
Reflecting on the summer, the midfielder discussed how the ordeal unfolded behind the scenes. The Scottish Football Association initially cited a stomach bug to keep the situation shielded from public view while the squad prepared for their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
Speaking to the media in Glasgow during a press conference at Hampden Park, McTominay emphasized that he did not view the health scare as an excuse for the team’s performances. He admitted that the elimination weighed heavily on him for weeks, leading to a period of intense personal disappointment.
The player said that despite being put to sleep in a hospital bed shortly before the tournament opener, he felt 100 percent fit once the rhythm was corrected. He played all three of Scotland’s matches at the World Cup.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, Steve Clarke resigned as Scotland manager, paving the way for Sébastien Pocognoli to take charge. Pocognoli’s initial squad selections proceeded without McTominay while the midfielder recovered from his September surgery.
In his absence, Scotland collected four points from their opening four matches in Nations League Group B1, sitting behind Slovenia and group leaders Switzerland. McTominay’s return provides a boost to the squad’s midfield as they resume their campaign.
Having returned to action in October, McTominay expressed eagerness to help younger players push their limits and realize their potential at the international level.